Been trawling the Condè Nast and Lonely Planet best destinations for 2016? Can’t decide whether to explore the chilled out island of Boracay or experience the wonders of Japan? Well, wherever you’re off to, if you’re planning a trip away that will involve living out of a rucksack and walking miles, here are the five must-have clothing items you need to wear/pack:
A high quality, lightweight coat
It’s important no matter where you are travelling that you take a coat with you. Even if you’re exploring Thailand you might experience heavy downpours and will be thankful for a high quality waterproof coat that you can throw on if you’re outside.
Ensure your coat can be easily folded and stored in a compartment of your backpack when it’s not in use and is a bright colour if you’re going to be traversing the rural areas of a country, just in case you get in trouble. If you know you’re going to be wearing your jacket a lot – say if you’re travelling through Europe in the winter – ensure it has plenty of pockets for storing important items. These men’s coats are a great option.
A good pair of jeans
A staple pair of trousers are important and preferably should be the ones you wear all the time. Jeans are a good option because they’re warm but also don’t overheat the wearer, they rarely need cleaning if they’re high quality raw denim and they’re not offensive – compared to those mid thigh shorts you insist on wearing when it’s warm.
Comfortable shoes
You’re more than likely going to be doing a lot of walking, so it’s important you have the right footwear for the job. You can’t go wrong with a pair of comfortable Converse, perfect for exploring cities and even historical sites or a pair of black leather trainers that look smart and go with everything in your wardrobe.
Hat and sunglasses
When the weather turns sunny you’ll be thankful that you packed that foldable wide brimmed hat and sunglasses in your bag. Choose a wool hat and you won’t deal with any creases or awkward shapes, while a baseball cap also works well. Be sure to pop your sunglasses in a hard case. You don’t want to arrive at your destination and discover that they’ve been crushed in the holdall or when you squeezed your bag under your seat on the train.
A wide scarf
Scarves are great for both guys and girls who are travelling because they serve a variety or purposes. Not only are they great for wrapping round your neck when it gets cold, they can also be used as a cover up in the sun. Or, if you’re somewhere sandy, as something to sit on if the ground is dirty, to wrap valuables in to protect them, and even as a towel in desperate situations. Choose a large, cotton material scarf that can be folded up small and you’ll definitely find a use for it.
